U.S. Representative Val Demings announced that her legislation, the Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, is moving forward as part of the new bipartisan America COMPETES Act of 2022. This legislation, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, is a large-scale effort to strengthen America’s economy, security, and global leadership; win the economic battle with China; and restore our supply chain and competitiveness.
“We cannot continue to allow the Chinese Communist Party to use forced labor and human rights violations to dominate the solar industry,” said Rep. Demings. “We should not have to choose between clean power and human rights. These parts should be made by American workers right here in Florida. Our pro-worker legislation, supported by Democrats and Republicans, will invest in American factories and American workers, create jobs, secure our solar supply chain, hold China accountable, and take on climate change, and ensure good pay and safe workplaces for America’s working families.”
Solar power in the U.S. is growing at a breakneck pace and U.S. manufacturers are struggling to keep pace, giving China an advantage. Over 230,000 Americans work in the solar industry, in more than 10,000 companies. The solar industry generated more than $25 billion of private investment in 2020. Also that year, 43% of all new electric capacity was solar – the most of any energy type.
“Florida is the Sunshine State, and we should embrace this exciting new opportunity to transform sunshine into new American jobs and build a brighter future. I am grateful to Chairman Pallone and the other authors of the America COMPETES Act for working with us to include this important priority as we work to restore America’s economy and global leadership.”
Rep. Demings’ Solar Supply Chain Act, included in the America COMPETES Act, would provide funding to build new solar component factories in the U.S., supercharging a domestic industry that is currently dominated by China but which has the potential to create up to 1.5 million new jobs across the United States by 2035.
Rep. Demings previously cosponsored two additional bipartisan bills to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable and protect Uyghurs in China, and voted for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, legislation to crack down on goods made by forced labor in the XUAR, saying “The Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing genocide of the Uyghur ethnic minority in China is a crime against humanity. They have lied and dissembled to cover up internment camps, torture, rape, and forced sterilization. They have attempted to eradicate the religious beliefs of the Uyghur people. It is evil, it is unacceptable, and we will fight it.” She also called on the Biden Administration to ban Chinese goods made with slave labor and advocate for an official international designation of genocide.
The America COMPETES Act would provide funding to eligible entities for construction of new facilities that manufacture solar components as well as retooling, retrofitting, or expanding existing facilities that manufacture solar components. Priority would be given to manufacturers that provide the greatest potential for domestic job creation and economic development in economically distressed regions. The bill authorizes $3 billion over the next five years.
Rep. Demings’ Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022 is a comprehensive package to restore America’s global competitiveness.
The section on Demings’ Solar Supply Chain begins, “The Congress finds that it is in the interest of the United States-
- to have a viable solar component manufacturing supply chain; and
- to reduce the reliance of United States manufacturers on solar components made in the People’s Republic of China.”
This legislative package focuses on tangible, results-oriented proposals, many of which have already passed the House with support from both Democrats and Republicans. The goals of the package are to:
- Grow the economy and create good-paying blue collar jobs
- Ease supply chain bottlenecks
- Invest in U.S. manufacturing (including the semiconductor shortage)
- Invest in U.S. research and development (R&D)
- Strengthen national security and advance U.S. global leadership
- Compete with China and hold them accountable for human rights abuses (including additional sanctions for China’s ongoing genocide of the Uyghur ethnic and religious minority)
- Address climate change
The U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last year. Once the America COMPETES Act is passed by the House, a conference process will merge the two bills for a final product.
The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, introduced last year, was cosponsored by Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Mike Doyle (MI-18) and Elissa Slotkin (MI-08). When the bill was originally introduced, they said:
“As we continue to build a cleaner energy system, we should ensure that its components are being built here in America,” said Rep. Doyle. “Currently, foreign competitors are dominating the manufacture of solar panels and in some cases using forced labor to do so. The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act would promote the U.S. manufacture of solar panels and solar panel components. We have the best workforce in the world and a growing demand for clean energy, so making the investment that this legislation does would create good paying jobs here at home while creating a cleaner economy.”
“Expanding our domestic solar energy manufacturing supply chain will create jobs and put the U.S. at the forefront of innovation and technology,” said Rep. Dingell. “Through a grant program in the Department of Energy to support this supply chain, we can make sure we’re not relying on foreign competitors for supplies. We’re in a critical moment to provide for hard-working American families and jumpstart our economy – this starts by ensuring the U.S. remains competitive while also combatting the climate crisis.”
“In Michigan, manufacturing is our bread and butter, and we have the potential to be a global leader in clean energy manufacturing, in particular,” said Rep. Slotkin. “This bill will make it easier to build cutting-edge solar technology right here at home, and in the process, it will create good-paying jobs and help the U.S. maintain a competitive edge over countries like China. This is a win for Michigan families, our environment and our national security.”
“Solar energy is critical to the U.S. economy. American companies and utilities need a reliable supply of sustainably manufactured solar panels to support our clean energy future,” said Ultra Low Carbon Solar Alliance Executive Director Michael Parr. “Too many imported solar panels are made in supply chains with high carbon emissions. The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, by supporting the expansion of all elements of solar panel manufacturing right here in the U.S., can leverage American innovation, low carbon manufacturing and productive American workers to ensure the supply of sustainable solar we need. The Ultra Low Carbon Solar Alliance congratulates Representatives Demings, Dingell, Doyle and Slotkin for introducing this important legislation and encourage their House colleagues to support it.”
